April 11, 2006

April 11, 2006

ACADEMIC COUNCIL

Present:  Bertrand, Buis, Cron, Curtis, Ferguson, Hathaway, Hinkle, Janzow, Jones, McDougall, Redmond, Reinheimer, Shaw, Shepard, Starrett, and Syler
 
Guests:  Michael Parker for Loretta Prater, John Wade, Jerry Waddle, Jean Benton
 
A.  Minutes of February 7, 2006 and March 7, 2006
 
Upon a motion by Curtis, seconded by Buis, both sets of minutes were unanimously approved.
 
B.  Action Items
1.  Cooperative M.A. in Criminal Justice
John Wade, Department of Criminal Justice Chairperson, distributed copies of a Memorandum of Understanding with Southeast Missouri State University and Missouri Southern State University about the joint graduate program to offer a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice.  He stated that Missouri Southern had also expressed interest in a cooperative dental hygiene program as well.  Southeast will offer 2 courses per semester, either by ITV or web, and that Missouri Southern would offer courses either face-to-face or on-line.  Wade noted that each university would pay their own staff.  He said that while it would be a degree from Southeast, both universities would be listed on the transcript. A motion for approval was made by Hathaway; seconded by Syler and brought forward for discussion.  After further discussion the Council agreed to vote on the merits of the cooperative M.A. in Criminal Justice.  Motion passed.  Five members abstained.  Curtis requested that a formal statement be sent to administration:  “The Academic Council expresses its displeasure at being asked to act on a program that has, in effect, already been approved.” Discussion continued that undergraduate programs are monitored through transfer articulation agreements; and dual credit for graduate or undergraduate students are formalized through transfer of hours.  McDougall suggested that the title of the document ought to have been “Memorandum of Agreement” instead of “Memorandum of Understanding.
 
2.  Department Title Change: Educational Administration and Counseling to Educational Leadership and Counseling
Shepard stated that the Provost recommended that the department title change be forwarded to Academic Council.  Shepard asked Waddle to present the departmental findings.  Curtis made motion for approval; Syler seconded.  Waddle stated that this title change appeared to be trendy but it was actually much deeper. He stated that the term “leadership” fit more of the role that identifies the state and national emphasis on school reform and accountability rather than “administration.”  Bertrand stated that many Missouri state universities and out-of-state universities have already changed titles of their programs.  It was noted that the new Specialist degree had been the catalyst for the title change recommendation.  Motion passed unanimously.
 
3.  EN100 (formalize)
Starrett distributed a handout for the proposed addition of EN100 to the General Education Program. He stated that the General Education Council recommended the new program structure to include EN100.  Students who graduate from Southeast currently must have EN100, or equivalent credit, on their record unless they come into the University with EN140 credit.  The Council recommended that since EN100 is already being taken by Southeast students, that the practice be recognized and be placed in the program as an additional first year course. The recognition of EN100 brings the number of credit hours within General Education to 51, but does not add to the graduation requirement of programs because it is already being counted.  The handout also outlined the curriculum requirements.  No changes are necessary to any syllabus. It was noted that this corrects the oversight.  McDougall suggested that Council recognizes it is a unique circumstance.  Since it is too late to make changes in the catalog for this fall (06-07); it will be in the 07-08 catalog. Motion passed unanimously.
 
C.  Discussion Items
1.  Joint Consortia Format for EC/US agreements
Janzow noted that there had been some discussion from time to time regarding interaction with European institutions.  The European Commission (EC) and the United States Department of Education are developing a new concept for joint consortia under the future EC/US agreement on higher education and training.  Janzow asked the Council for comments and academic issues that needed to be addressed.  Benton pointed out that the agreement that had been in effect over the last 10 years was about to expire and this new agreement would be to step it up to another level and bring higher education more into the process.  Council agreed that the language proficiency would be the biggest hurdle at most levels of the institutions.  Transfer of hours, lack of academic components, protection of student interests, and FIPSE involvement were other issues also discussed.
 
D.  Information Items
1.  Transfer Credit Policy at State Level
Janzow distributed a handout on Transfer Credit taken from the Missouri Department of Higher Education. He informed the Council that at a recent on-campus event a community college president raised some questions on the issue of SE policy on transfer credit.  Janzow stated that the community college president expressed concern about the fairness and rationale of transfer acceptance and non-acceptance at Southeast.  This president cited instances of being able to send students directly to UMSL and receive credit but not here.  Janzow noted that these transferring institutions are feeder institutions to this university and the importance of departments adhering to state policies and practices and asked the Deans to take this information back to the chairs for resolution.  McDougall stated that this was a Registrar’s office issue and not at the departmental level.  Hinkle commented that departments make the judgment calls on a one-by-one a basis or that every department would have to review every course.  Janzow stressed that there is a long-term impact because of the cost factor of students going to community colleges cheaper and the push for community colleges to offer 4-year degrees.  It was also noted that the statement in the Bulletin “a minimum of 56 semester hours be earned at an accredited senior college or university” needs clarification.  Janzow said he would take the discussion comments back to the Provost and bring back to Council for resolution and decision if changes needed to be made in the Bulletin.